Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol is a city of 27,636 people in Sullivan County, Tennessee, founded in 1856.
Why visit Bristol
Townapedia lists 24 museums and landmarks, 24 parks and trails, 88 places to eat, 10 places to stay and 6 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include King University, Marquee Cinemas Pinnacle, Birthplace of Country Music Museum and Virginia Middle School.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 26°F.
Weather in Bristol
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Bristol
Bristol is a city in Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 27,147 at the 2020 census. It is the twin city of Bristol, Virginia, which lies directly across the state line between Tennessee and Virginia. Bristol, TN and Bristol, VA are two separate, though unified, twin cities.
From the Wikipedia article Bristol, Tennessee (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do6
The Big Red Apple Shed
Farm and orchard · 2.0 mi
594 TN-126, Bristol
Sa-Su 09:00-18:00
Museums and landmarks24
Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Museum · 3.2 mi
Museum in Bristol, Tennessee, United States
101 Country Music Way, Bristol
Tu-Sa 10:00-18:00; Su 13:00-17:00; PH off
Virginia Middle School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.7 mi
Building in Bristol, Virginia, United States
501 Piedmont Avenue, Bristol
Bristol Municipal Stadium
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Stadium in Tennessee, United States of America
Bristol
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Historic train station in Bristol, Virginia
Bristol Commercial Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Historic district in Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol Virginia-Tennessee Slogan Sign
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Landmark in Bristol, VA and Bristol, TN
Bristol Warehouse Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Human settlement in Virginia, United States of America
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Douglass School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.2 mi
School in Bristol, Virginia
East Hill Cemetery
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
US civil-war-era cemetery
Euclid Avenue Historic District (Bristol, Virginia)
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.6 mi
Historic district in Virginia, United States
King-Lancaster-McCoy-Mitchell House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Historic house in Virginia, United States
Old Deery Inn
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 6.3 mi
Historic building in Blountville, Tennessee
12 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds24
12 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes88
Duck Donuts
Restaurant · Donut · 3.4 mi
424 Pinnacle Parkway, Bristol
Mo-Th 07:00-20:00; Fr 07:00-21:00; Sa 08:00-21:00; Su 08:00-19:00
Applebee's
Diner · American · 2.7 mi
425 Volunteer Parkway
Mo-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr, Sa 11:00-12:00; Su 11:00-22:00
Delta Blues BBQ
Restaurant · Barbecue · 3.0 mi
724 State Street, Bristol
Tu-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-22:00
Johnny Brusco's New York Style Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 3.4 mi
408 Pinnacle Parkway, Bristol
Mo-Su 11:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-22:00
La Carreta
Restaurant · Mexican · 3.4 mi
424 Pinnacle Parkway, Bristol
Mo,Tu 11:00-20:00; We,Th 11:00-21:00; Fr 11:00-21:30; Sa...
Shang Hai
Restaurant · Chinese · 3.1 mi
711 State Street, Bristol
Tu-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:00
Trailblazer Coffee
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.6 mi
2016 W State Street, Bristol
Mo-Fr 06:00-17:00; Sa 07:00-17:00; Su 08:00-16:00
Eatz on Moore Street
Restaurant · 3.2 mi
17 Moore Street, Bristol
Tu, We 11:00-15:30; Th-Sa 11:00-19:00
76 more on the map.
History
Before 1852, the land where Bristol is located was owned by Reverend James King. His son-in-law, Joseph R. Anderson of Blountville, Tennessee, bought 100 acres (40 ha) of the plantation and named it Bristol. The G.W. Blackley House, one of the oldest houses in Bristol, was constructed in 1869.
From the History section of Bristol, Tennessee on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay10
Econo Lodge Near Motor Speedway
Motel and hotel · 3.5 mi
940 Commonwealth Avenue, Bristol
The Sessions Hotel, Bristol, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Motel and hotel · 3.0 mi
833 State Street, Bristol
Travel Inn Bristol Near State Street
Motel and hotel · 2.7 mi
2221 Euclid Avenue, Bristol
Churches and places of worship93
First Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
125 Sedgefield Street, Bristol
B’nai Sholom Congregation
Place of worship · Nondenominational · 4.3 mi
2510 Blountville Highway, Bristol
Shopping23
Gas and EV charging23
Schools, colleges and libraries42
Healthcare6
Map of Bristol
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 26°F | 3.6 in | 3.0 in |
| Feb | 51°F | 29°F | 3.8 in | 3.0 in |
| Mar | 59°F | 35°F | 4.0 in | 1.1 in |
| Apr | 69°F | 43°F | 3.8 in | 0.1 in |
| May | 77°F | 52°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 61°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 65°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 86°F | 63°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 81°F | 56°F | 2.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 70°F | 44°F | 2.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 59°F | 34°F | 3.1 in | 0.3 in |
| Dec | 50°F | 29°F | 3.8 in | 1.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Bristol Tri City Ap 72335 (12 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Sullivan County has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for winter storms.
- 2026-02-06: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-04-02: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2024-10-02: Tropical Storm Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2020-04-02: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Tri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 12 miles away.
- Walnut Hill 3 mi west, about 4 min by car
- Bristol 5 mi northeast, about 8 min by car
- Blountville 6 mi west, about 10 min by car
- Bluff City 8 mi southwest, about 12 min by car
- Hunter 11 mi south, about 18 min by car
- Biltmore 13 mi south, about 21 min by car
- Elizabethton 15 mi south, about 24 min by car
- Oak Grove 15 mi southwest, about 24 min by car
- Johnson City 17 mi southwest, about 28 min by car
- Boone 39 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Bristol, Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Greetings from Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee - Large Letter Postcard (8201880135), Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Bristol mall GameStop moving, Spidy0329, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1917 postcard Showing Holston Avenue in Bristol, TN, Vadna, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2017-05-17 09 50 30 View north along U.S. Route 421 (Gate City Highway) at U.S. Route 11W (Euclid Avenue) in Bristol, Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Belk - Bristol Mall Bristol, VA, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35410199892, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35447966381, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35539490466, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35539490336, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Belk - Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35539484486, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35410201612, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bath & Body Works - Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35539483856, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Belk - Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35539484356, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bath & Body Works - Bristol Mall Bristol, VA, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35539487896, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35539487716, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35447966371, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35539487796, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35539488116, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bath & Body Works - Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35539486386, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35539487986, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35539488456, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35447966451, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35539487516, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bath & Body Works - Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35539486486, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35539489976, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35539489676, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Belk - Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35539490156, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- GNC - Bristol Mall Bristol, VA, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Sears - Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35539485876, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bristol sears closing, Spidy0329, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Belk - Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35539489826, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Sears - Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35539488986, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bristol Mall Bristol, VA - 35539490606, MikeKalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bristol First Baptist Church, Nyttend, Public domain
- Virginia Middle School, Nyttend, Public domain
- BristolMunicipalStadium 1061, Cecouchman, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Douglass School, Bristol, Nyttend, Public domain
- 2012-02-08; Susong Building, Bristol, Virginia (6849254603), Robert Spiegel, CC BY 2.0
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